385 – ʿAbd Allah ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ mounted the pulpit, we would face him with our faces.” It was narrated by al-Tirmidhi with a weak chain (1), and it has a corroborating narration from al-Barāʾ in the collection of Ibn Khuzaymah (2).

—

Status of the hadith
The report is weak. The author states that al-Tirmidhi related it with a weak isnād because it contains Muḥammad ibn al-Faḍl ibn ʿAṭiyyah, who is weak; Ahmad even said, “His narrations are the narrations of the people of falsehood.” Al-Dāraqutnī, Ibn ʿAdiyy, and others also declared him weak. The author adds that the hadith has a supporting chain from al-Barāʾ in Ibn Khuzaymah, though it could not be located in the printed edition; al-Bayhaqī also related it (3/198).

Points derived from the hadith
1 – It is legislated for the sermon to be delivered from a pulpit or any raised platform, as this better enables the audience to hear.
2 – It is recommended for the attendees to turn their faces toward the preacher when he begins the sermon, following the practice of the Companions. This accords with the etiquette of listening and is more effective in admonition. Al-Nawawī said: this is unanimously agreed upon.
Imam al-Ḥaramayn, explaining why they faced him, said: “He is addressing them, so if—”